Tag Archives: General Motors

BMW offers its customers a choice for a package of Internet connection regardless of the model purchased. The only requirement is to be equipped with multimedia Connected Drive system.

While many manufacturers have praised the introduction of Internet in the car, BMW is the first manufacturer that promises unlimited Internet access throughout the life of the model equipped with this function.

The brand even remember, on this occasion, that it’s the one who first introduced the on-board computer in 1980. The first radar back in 1990 and GPS navigation in 1994.

In 2010, BMW’s system is based on multimedia Connected Drive which already includes a multitude of other services, such as navigation, communication with other devices such telephone or computer, the interaction between the safety devices (night vision, head covered high, parking assistance, emergency call), and adds the ability to surf the Internet from the front seats when the vehicle is stationary.

It is even possible to surf from the vehicle rear seat, but only with the option Multimedia Station on the 5 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series GT. The option costs only 90 EUR and its validity is equal to the lifetime of the car. No subscription to pay later.

General Motors wants to update your Facebook status by voice command

General Motors is testing a software that will allow drivers to update their status on Facebook while driving, through a voice command.

GM will also test a program that reads drivers’ SMS and allow them to respond by choosing one of the preset messages with a button on the steering wheel.

The company hasn’t said when these programs will be available, but spokesman Jocely Allen said they should be evaluated very carefully to ensure it does not distract drivers attention from the road.

Shanshan Du, a former General Motors employee, engaged with her husband, Qin Yu, were accused of stealing secret information about hybrid technology developed by the U.S. manufacturer. In January 2005 Shanshan Du copied secret information on a hard disk, and in May 2006 together with her husband destroyed the stolen documents.

During this time, Shanshan Du’s husband talked with Chinese carmaker Chery to offer hybrid technology. Shortly after the destruction of documents, U.S. prosecutors have started an investigation which found the indicted guilty.

According to GM officials, the documents stolen by former employee worth about 40 million dollars. So far the Chinese manufacturer’s officials haven’t said anything. It’s not the first time we see such cases. Last year, Yu Xiang Dong, a former Ford employee was charged and arrested for stealing secret documents from inside the company.

After “Chevy” was used for decades for the Chevrolet brand, General Motors Corp. would no longer use this shortcut. Consistency reasons are behind Chevrolet, which GM executives believes that disrupt the use of such abbreviations. A few days ago, the New York Times obtained a memo sent by GM’s managers to the employees, asking them to use only the “Chevrolet” name when they refer to this brand of General Motors.

Deliberately or not, the note contained a shorthand used quite often to represent another well known US brand. So those from GM refered to Coca-Cola through Coke, making the same kind of shorthand that is wished to be avoided in the future. GM directors intend to go the exact opposite trend started by other famous brands. As suggested by the Times newspaper, the trend in this area is to be accessible with all the brands and friendly slogans. However you read this decision, some sources within GM suggested that it is heavely supported by the new advertising campaign made by Goodby Silverstein & Partners, which took the American brand in their hands of the company which handled the advertising Chevrolet and GM in the last 60 years.

A note of that statement suggests that each employee that uses “Chevy” instead of “Chevrolet” should put 25 cents in a box. The purpose of this exercise is to help employees become familiar with the correct American brand name. All funds raised could be used for team building activities. Until then, GM should have discussions with Google and should update their websites because their Twitter page has the motto “Talking Chevy one Tweet at a Time”. Moreover, they have sponsored links on Google which led to the official website of the American brand, under the slogan “The Official Chevy Site” . Even chevy.com directs the users towards the official website which uses the full name of the American brand.

Chevrolet dealers disagree with the new decision. First, they say that short Chevy brand is much closer to the brand than the Chevrolet name. GM directors disagree with this opinion pointing out that Chevrolet is an active trademark in 130 countries. Moreover, an expert in marketing from the United States of America underlines that GM executives have said nothing of the “GM” acronym which is present for years. Use of this acronym is very similar to the “Chevy” shorthand used today. Unwittingly, the new advertising agency, created an unnecessary stir around issues that they consider crucial to the future of Chevrolet, while public, dealers and employees do not think of it as a problem.

Although GM gave Hummer a chance, trying to sell, the repeated negotiations with various interested parties have failed in the end, the only viable solution is seen by officials is the company’s liquidation.

During GM was under bankruptcy protection, in 2009, Hummer’s production was stopped, but the company’s officials have resumed production of the H3 model after they received an order for 849 cars for fleets.

Lately, in its production, Hummer produced more commercial models, the most known were the H1, H2, H3.

In the first stage, they announced that the model will debut in November 2011, but its market launch could take place during an event at the GM factory in Fairfax.

Ed Whitacre, the head of the board of General Motors, motivates the changed date of launching by its “rapid progress of those of GM and the new working rhythm in the company that he runs”.

GM pointed out that the model will debut in California, Michigan and Washington, a sign that the launch from Fairfax is just a model presentation in front of the press, coupled by the announcement of the Volt’s launch price.

General Motors has paid all its debts accumulated towards the American State during the 2009 crisis and now makes progress in his return after the bankruptcy proceedings it went through the middle of last year.

According to U.S. official, the payment was done faster than was expected because of good products launched by GM lately.

“We were able to return taxpayers’ money ahead of time because we draw, build and sell the best cars that GM has ever produced, “said Whitacre.

GM reported losses of 4.3 billion dollars in post-bankruptcy period in 2009, but officials say the results are encouraging in order to re-income in the year 2010.

In these conditions, GM could again become a private company in 2010 or 2011.

The U.S. state has bought 60.8% of GM in July 2009, the Canadian government and a trust holding significant percentage of General Motors.

General Motors is one of those manufacturers who intend to apply the algorithm globally by 2012.

Although GM has started adding brake override software on ETS-equipped cars as an additional safeguard.

The software automatically kills electronic throttle input once the driver steps on the brake, in order to prevent the chances of unintended acceleration.

“New media analyses of government data consistently validates that GM’s safety record on this issue is among the strongest in the industry,” said Tom Stephens, vice chairman of GM’s global product operations.

“At the same time, we know safety is top of mind for consumers, so we are applying additional technology to reassure them that they can count on the brakes in their GM vehicle.”

GM says that by the end of 2012, all of its vehicles sold around the world equipped with automatic transmissions and electronic throttle control will also be equipped with a brake override system.

General Motors has opened a new customer service in which agents of the U.S. manufacturer search on social networks and tries to contact people who write about the cars problems caused by the giant in Detroit.

Moreover, GM wants to double in April this search by hiring more people and by acquiring new technologies.

It seems that the new service “invented” by GM it’s working.

Melissa Walker, a real estate agent in Jacksonville, wrote on Twitter about mechanical problems of her Cadillac DeVille.

An official of the service made contact with Melissa Walker, but the car problems were not resolved.

“I was very surprised. I didn’t address those from GM. I was not expecting to do something, but the fact that I got that phone call surprised me enormously, “said American.

Cadillac is trying to escape the burden of a name as that of parent General Motors, which still preserves the spot of bankruptcy last summer, and promises a further individualization. It is not about a divorce between the two entities but only a separation brand identities.

The statement comes from a Cadillac spokesman, Nick Twork, which holds that in the near future Cadillac will give up the name of GM into marketing strategies and inside dealers and will not participate in joint actions of the brand. In addition, email addresses will be changed, the extension “@ gm.com” following to change into “@ cadillac.com”.

The strategy made public by U.S. officials is part of the restructuring plan of General Motors and was thought by the new CEO, Ed Whitacre, who is trying to revitalize the brand in Detroit.